Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo

Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo studied Human Genetics as an undergraduate at the University College London and her Masters in Genetic Counselling at the University of Manchester. Following graduation Aideen moved to Maryland in the USA to a position at the National Institutes of Health where she remained for the following eight years. During this time she had many roles including associate director of the genetic counselling masters program at Johns Hopkins University, clinical genetic counsellor and researcher counsellor. Research studies included Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Turner syndrome, Premature Ovarian Failure and neurodegenerative diseases in general with a special interest in Parkinson Disease. Aideen moved to Australia in 2006 where she accepted a position as a prenatal genetic counsellor. In 2011 she returned to research at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute where she got the opportunity to identify new genes for rare genetic disorders, especially focusing on disorders which affected the development of the skeleton. Aideen subsequently elected to do a PhD on the analysis of whole exome sequencing for genetic testing and gene identification. Aideen currently works with the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute under the mentorship of Prof Peter Soyer, using her gene identification skills to identify new genes for melanoma. Furthermore, Aideen is interested in assessing whether genetic testing and counselling will improve sun protective behaviours and screening practices in high risk individuals.